I have installed a new controller on my CNC and I need some adjustments to get things working again.
First I had an Arduino and G-shield controller and switched to Carbide 3D controller so I can use Carbide Motion with my self upgraded Shapeoko 1. I am also aware that this is not supported under any of Carbide 3D policies since it is a complete personal build.
What I am looking for help with -
Homing,
Z- travels up towards end stop but only about 20 -30 mm and stops. after 3 initialization it works once close enough
X is working but my endstop is on the left when facing machine and homing travels right. do I need to move endstop or can I change in GRBL/G-code settings
Y is working but my endstop is on the front when facing machine and homing travels to back. do I need to move endstop or can I change in GRBL/G-code settings. In addition this is also running out of travel distance and errors out before traveling length of table 1800mm
UGS G-code Sender does not communicate with new Carbided 3D controller is this not an option or is there a specific version of UGS needed.
Easel does not communicate with Carbide 3D.controller is this an option - Sorry I know this is not your spftware just thought I would ask.
Is there a place to calibrate or configure rapid position locations.
Here are the current GRBL stetting i have. I have only changed $3 from 6 to 2 so far.
Can you confirm which GRBL version you have on the controller ? Should be 1.1f
Weird. Are you getting any GRBL error when the movement stops?
You should be able to invert the direction of X movement by modifying $3 parameter.
Currently you have $3=6, which corresponds to setting bits 1 and 2, (0b00000110), which inverts axis Y and Z. If you want to invert X axis direction, you will need to set bit 0 to 1, so for example $3=7 (0b00000111) will invert X, Y, and Z.
Ah, so you need to un-invert Y axis, by clearing bit 1 in the $3 value. So in you case it seems like the adequate value for $3 should be 0b00000101, that’s $3=5
Which GRBL error do you get then ?
It should work, many folks here use it. Did you make sure to select “firwmware: GRBL” and baud rate 115200, and the serial port corresponding to the Shapeoko ?
I’m not familiar with Easel, but if it speaks normal GRBL language, it should work. The Shapeoko controller runs a vanilla GRBL 1.1f (with only the config file tuned for Shapeoko settings) so it should talk to any G-code sender that follows the GRBL standard.
Unfortunately not, at this time the rapid position locations are hardcoded in CM. If you are going to use another G-code senders like UGS, you could use macros to define custom rapid positions.
The $3 = 5 did not work so I looked into it a bit more and set to $3 = 1 this got the X Y and Z all traveling in the correct direction for homing.
It did however lead to another issue where all designs are now running in the other direction. Meaning I have to set my zero in the back right corner of board. I am going to see if I can change in Carbide Create. If not I will have to change back and move end stops. Also the Jog feature is now backwards such that left arrow goes right and back arrow now goes forward. Z runs as expected.
The $102 change corrected the Z height issues - Thanks
Couple of other items I noticed and not sure can be changed.
I enlarged $130 (X-max Travel) and $131 (X-max Travel) to fit my machine travel distance and can only go to the distance of what I perceive as Shapeoko XXL max travel -845, -850 I would like to enlarge this for Carbide Motion usage if possible. My system has a travel of distance of -940, -1700 and does travel there with UGS.
That being said I did get UGS to connect but only after Carbide Motion connects and is turned off.
If I start the machine up and router is in the far back of table and I hit initialize in Carbide Motion it starts a homing and runs out of room and gives this error.
Table size is larger then XXL size it is 32" x 57" roughly.
One last question, I have noticed that if machine is left plugged in, even if Carbide Motion is closed the motors are on and locked in place, sending constant energy to motors. Is there a preferred method to turn off the Carbide 3D controller. I tried setting $1 = 50 but this just completely turns off motors after each move and I just want them turned off when not in use.
Thanks for all the assistance I really appreciate it.
When CM is executing, it grabs the serial port of the Shapeoko, making it unavailable for another sender that would try and connect then. Always only launch one of the G-code senders at a time, with the other ones closed, and you should be ok
Normally GRBL will seek the homing point as far as $130/$131 allow, does the homing error occur when using UGS and those enlarged $130/$131 settings ? What version of CM do you have ? Earlier versions had built-in hardcoded travel limits, I’m not sure whether there is still a limit in recent versions but the travel dimensions are not configurable from CM settings.
One last question, I have noticed that if machine is left plugged in, even if Carbide Motion is closed the motors are on and locked in place, sending constant energy to motors. Is there a preferred method to turn off the Carbide 3D controller. I tried setting $1 = 50 but this just completely turns off motors after each move and I just want them turned off when not in use.
There is a $ field that controls for how long the steppers lock, with 0 or 255 (I can’t recall right now) describing ‘always locked’ and numbers not 0 or 255 governing mS of lock following movement stop. It’s described in detail in the source code. If I get a chance later on I will look this out, as I tinkered here whilst building a special version of 1.1f for my Glass Drawing Machine
Changes from a default reset $RST=$
$3=2 ;This set X, Y, Z travel in the correct directions
$20 = 1 ; Sets soft limits to enable
$21=1 ;Sets Hard limits to enable
$23=3 ; Homing cycle direction based on this document - https://www.diymachining.com/downloads/GRBL_Settings_Pocket_Guide_Rev_B.pdf
$100=44 ; X travel Resolution for my system Calibrated
$101=44 ; Y travel Resolution for my system Calibrated
$102=188.95 ; Z travel Resolution for my system Calibrated ACME rod
$130=775 ; X Max travel on my system
$131=1545 ; Y Max travel on my system
$132=68.315 ; Z Max travel on my system
I did also look into $1=255 vs. $1=50 and yes this turned off continuous power to steppers but was to quick to release so set it back.
With all of these changes the system now homes correctly and travels in the correct directions.
I will have to add a power switch for when not in use as this does not have one
And I still have one major issue and I have not figured out yet. Carbide Motion does not like the larger size of 1545 in the Y axis and considers the center of my work space as 0 and not the front left corner as expected. This means I can not jog until I first rapid back to center of table and then have to send GRBL code via MDI to move forward or to front on table. I have tried to zero out in front left corner but this has no effect on where the machine will allow me to jog. Any thoughts on re-configuring the overall table size in software would be helpful. I have worked in Config,h on a 3D printer before so if that is necessary I guess I could give it a try.
Thanks to everyone that has given advise, all has been helpful.
Final update for upgraded controller. I had been playing with all of the above settings over and over trying to figure out the reason the machine would always start back about 3 feet from the front on the table and I finally figured it out tonight.
I went with all setting as listed in pervious post but had noticed that I was running an outdated version of Carbide Motion. (4.0.414) I upgraded this to current version build 537 and after I was still having the same issues but in settings area I could now set machine size.
A big thank you to the programmers for adding this feature it has saved the day for me.
after entering my exact machine travel distance and hitting OK my machine is traveling just as I would expect. And on top of that the Rapid locations all work as well.
Haven’t cut anything yet but I am super excited to finally be using Carbide Motion.
Next step is to buy a Bit Setter and a Bit Zero. Guess I will need to do some research on how to hook up both at the same time.
The BitSetter includes a splitter board for connecting both, but it’s only needed on older machines, instead one can use the Reserved header for one accessory, and the Probe input on the PCB Riser Board for the other.